Latest news with #LawrenceAkers
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DHS targets sanctuary cities including Springfield and Holyoke
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – As the federal government continues to detain illegal immigrants, sanctuary jurisdictions are now being targeted. Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a list of 500 counties, cities, and states that they claim are interfering with mass deportations. The department published the list, citing they were 'endangering Americans and law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens.' Operation Patriot nets 1,500 arrested by ICE in Massachusetts These places are referred to as sanctuary jurisdictions, or a place that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities. While the list was posted on the Department of Homeland Security's website last Thursday, it was since taken down as of Sunday. Cities across the country on the list included San Diego, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia, but there were also four in western Massachusetts. 'In my mind, we are not a sanctuary city,' said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. One of those cities was Springfield. 'We do not interfere with I.C.E., but we have the Welcome City Ordinance that says my officers cannot ask any type of status, immigration status,' said Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. The city of Holyoke was also on the list. In a statement, Mayor Joshua Garcia said the city's executive order 'simply directs our police officers to follow the law and not act as federal immigration agents.' Two additional cities in western Massachusetts are publicly declared sanctuary jurisdictions: Amherst and Northampton. Federal officials have criticized sanctuary city policies, claiming local agencies are releasing criminals back into the communities. The DHS said the sanctuary jurisdiction list will be used to determine the termination of grants. 'I have already lost millions and millions of dollars in grants, this now possibly means we are going to lose even more money,' Mayor Sarno said. 'My first responsibility is to the residents and business community of the city of Springfield.' Since the webpage was taken down, it is uncertain what, if any, action will be taken against the sanctuary jurisdictions on the list. 22News will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Springfield police warn public of recent Bitcoin schemes
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Cryptocurrency schemes are on the rise, and the Springfield Police Department is asking residents not to fall for them. Law enforcement officials say it's simple: hang up the phone and don't send the money. Those who fall for the schemes could have a difficult time getting their money back. Springfield Police say that some have sent thousands to tens of thousands of dollars through these cryptocurrency schemes. Springfield Public Schools opens diploma requests for former students affected by past MCAS rules 'Since the beginning of 2024, here in the city alone there's probably been approximately $624,000 lost due to the scam, mainly involving cryptocurrency and Bitcoin,' said Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. In the most recent scheme throughout the city of Springfield, callers have been impersonating local sheriff's department deputies. 'Victims are getting a call by a 'Deputy Ross,' which are real deputies at our department,' said Chief Deputy Frank Ott of the Hampden County Sheriff's Department. 'They're being told that there is an outstanding warrant or jury duty, and to clear up the warrant they would need to deposit money.' The Springfield Police Department said the victims of these schemes range from ages 20 to 90 years old, but the majority of them are elderly. According to law enforcement, people have traveled from New York to Springfield to send money to schemers. Data finds that money is instantly sent to another country, and schemers are often untraceable. Springfield Police said these are 'common sense crimes.' They're urging people not to be embarrassed if they are a victim, and to come forward and report it immediately, as they want to put a stop to crypto crimes. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Springfield cop pledges to fulfill consent decree reforms, as similar pacts end across US
SPRINGFIELD — Amid uncertainty over consent decrees covering police departments across the country, Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers said policy shifts in Washington mean little to him. Akers said he will push ahead with reforms the department has already instituted over the past three years after entering into an agreement with the Department of Justice in 2022. That followed a searing DOJ critique in 2020 of the department's former narcotics unit's excessive use of force. President Donald J. Trump in April issued an order to 'strengthen and unleash' America's law enforcement, with a directive that the U.S. Attorney General review all federal consent decrees and modify, rescind or conclude the agreements. As recently as Wednesday, the Trump administration announced the end of consent decrees in Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky — two hotspots of racial unrest after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop in 2020 and the killing of Breonna Taylor during a botched execution of a search warrant in Kentucky. The Justice Department in the final weeks of the previous administration reached consent decree agreements with Minneapolis and Louisville, but the settlements had yet to be approved by a judge. The administration also announced the scrapping of consent decrees in Memphis; Phoenix; Oklahoma City; Trenton, New Jersey; and Mount Vernon, New York, as well as a case against the Louisiana State Police. Outside of local news coverage, Springfield's consent decree hasn't gotten a mention in widespread media coverage of the issue. Akers said he will continue to pursue the reform in police practice spelled out in the agreement. 'The message I'd like to convey to those in the community who believe 'Oh, now Springfield's going to get off the hook' is that we're not off the hook for anything,' said Akers, who was took the post in early 2024 as the department's first Black leader. 'We're just going to be going the way we're going. I think it's made the department a better place,' he said of changes in policy and practice under the federal settlement. The agreement has focused heavily on use-of-force policies, training, oversight measures, improving community relations and other benchmarks. Part of the agreement requires a compliance monitor, a role filled by Kathleen O'Toole, a former Boston Police commissioner and Secretary of Public Safety, plus a federal magistrate judge assigned to decide whether the city is in compliance. A Springfield native and 40-year veteran of the police force, Akers said he has not heard anything about the future of the consent decree from the DOJ, nor is he concerned about it. 'Whether this ends in a year, or a week, we're just going to keep doing what we're doing,' Akers said, adding that his priorities are the health of the department and the community it serves. 'Not just certain sectors of the city either. All residents in all communities,' he said. A spokesperson for the DOJ in Boston has been tight-lipped about the status of Springfield's consent decree. 'We're reviewing the executive order and will have no further comment at this time,' Christina Dilorio-Sterling said previously. She did not respond to a question from The Republican on Wednesday about the latest announcement by the Trump administration. Staff departures from the U.S. Attorney's office suggest the federal involvement is changing. Four assistant U.S. attorneys have withdrawn their appearances over the past four months, according to the federal court docket. Media representatives for the DOJ in Washington, D.C., did not respond to a request for comment. An investigation during Trump's first term preceded the announcement of the consent decree under the Biden administration. Akers said that while he's keeping his 'eyes on the prize' for the department, and is not focused on the DOJ, he wouldn't mind if the decree went away. 'Naturally no leader of a police department wants to be under a consent decree. It's a stigma I walked into,' he said. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial service pays tribute and honors Springfield's fallen heroes
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – It's National Police Week, and on Tuesday, a memorial service honored Springfield officers who died in the line of duty. The city of Springfield paused Tuesday afternoon to remember its fallen officers. Each year, this quiet moment of reflection is held at Springfield police headquarters, honoring those who died in the line of duty. Seventeen names, engraved in the memorial stone outside the station, each representing a life lost while serving the city. Family members looked on…Some remembering loved ones from decades ago—-others generations. Each name was read aloud during the memorial roll call. Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers recognized the families who carry the weight of such a great loss, 'Your loved ones are heroes—not just for how they died, but for how they lived.' Among those in attendance was Maura Schiavina. Her brother, Officer Michael Schiavina, was killed nearly 40 years ago. 'I still have all of these images in my head. I wanted to work in this department with my brother—I can't put into words what this means to me.' Doris Beauregard Shecrallah, the wife of fallen officer Alain Beauregard, shares a message of hope for the next generation of police officers. 'When you see those names, they are not forgotten,' she says. 'Thank you for joining this team. We need you.' As officers and families stood in silence, the Springfield honor guard offered a final salute to those who never made it home. Father William Hamilton adds, 'There's no greater love than to lay one's life down for a friend. Even more remarkable is to lay one's life down for those not known. This is the legacy our loved ones have left us.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Springfield police officers honored for dedication to public safety
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – It was a proud night for the City of Springfield as its police officers were honored, taking center stage for their commitment to keeping the community safe. These awards are for the bravery these officers displayed between October 2023 and January of this year. In a time when being a police officer is more demanding than ever. Ceremonies like this one shed light on the daily sacrifices made by the men and women in blue. The Springfield police department's awards ceremony, held at Springfield Technical Community College, saw dozens of officers step up to receive recognition for their quick thinking, courage, and commitment to the city. Mayor Domenic Sarno told 22News, 'Policing is still and will always be an honorable profession, and I am very proud of the Springfield police department.' The awards highlighted officers' efforts to always go above and beyond for public safety. From life-saving interventions to answering the call when needed most. 'It's not just coming into work, grind, grin,d grind, and goody pays attention, and the only time you are recognized is when something bad happens,' says Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. 'We have to recognize them when they do a good thing. We want the community to see the good things.' For the officers who regularly step into the line of danger without hesitation, the night was both humbling and deeply meaningful. Officer Tequila Taylor-Evans shared with 22News, 'I'm just super appreciative—it is a hard job…But something like this makes it so rewarding.' The Springfield Police Department says these moments of praise are vital for both the officers and the community–a reminder of the dedication to the badge. Honors included a life-saving award as well as letters of recognition. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
